Introduce young viewers to documentary cinema with these five films. Watch them for free in the classroom or at home with the whole family!
Synopsis
At the beginning of the summer of their 16th year, Adam, Ana, and Dahlia turn to their families and friends to question their cultural heritage. Through intimate conversations, Here and There juxtaposes the different influences and realities that shape the development of the cultural identities of second and third-generation immigrants.
A word from Tënk
This film is part of our Doc for Young Audiences program, featuring five films that introduce young viewers to the world of documentary cinema. Perfect for classroom screenings or to enjoy at home with the family—free to watch!
"I feel more Québécoise because I don’t know very much about Senegalese culture. I watched the film with my dad and my mom. I told my dad that my brother and I would have really liked him to teach us to speak the language of Senegal. I went there when I was two years old, and I’d like to go back. I would discover a new country, and I would feel more connected to my roots."
Rose, 8 years old, almost 9
In collaboration with
If you want to go further
- Where are you from?
- Do your parents or grandparents speak languages other than French? If so, have you learned them?
- Do you know your family history well? Have you ever asked your parents or grandparents about their childhood, the place where they were born, or the times they moved?
- Several young people in the film mention not feeling fully from here or from elsewhere. Do you think we have to choose between our cultural identities? Can we belong to several places at the same time?
- What does it mean to be Québécois or Québécoise?
- Could you imagine yourself living somewhere else? If so, where?
Points for reflection
Here and There explores the complex question of cultural identities with great tact and sensitivity. At a time when immigration is constantly making headlines, often instrumentalized by politicians to divert attention or serve as a scapegoat for multifaceted issues, children from second- and third-generation immigrant families may feel marginalized or rejected by Quebec society. In the face of the growing normalization of xenophobia and racist behaviours, particularly fuelled by the rise of the far right, it seems essential to introduce all children, from an early age, to questions of origins and belonging, in order to encourage a more complex and nuanced understanding of our shared reality. Everyone is "from here and from elsewhere."
From a young age, questions of cultural identity can be explored by focusing on the richness of a heritage shaped by multiple countries and histories. Migration journeys can sometimes lead to breaks in the transmission of family stories and traditions. Watching Here and There can encourage children to ask their parents and grandparents about their life stories and origins, offering a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with forgotten or missing threads of family history. The short film provides an excellent starting point for elementary and high school classrooms to open a thoughtful, compassionate, and enriching discussion about the diverse backgrounds that shape each person’s identity.
